4 Things Fanfiction Has Taught Me about Writing

While the idea of sticking to a set schedule of writing is incredibly important and admirable, it is not always so easy to follow through with said plans (case in point: the date of this post).  I cannot tell you how many times this week I have started writing a new post only to get a severe case of writer’s block. 

I’m also, sadly, a person who can get pretty easily distracted by other things—the Internet in general, cleaning out my closet, exercising, shiny things, Pez, the state of the world as we know it, why Pluto isn’t a planet anymore, etc.  Fortunately, one of the things which provides a major distraction for me is reading fanfiction (i.e. crack for fandom shippers and people who refuse to accept the fact that both Tonks and Lupin had to die at the end of the 7^th Harry Potter book, and don’t even get me started about Fred).  Ahem.

I say fortunately because, despite my infinite regret while reading it that I should probably be reading more “legitimate” fiction in my spare time, I have found that there are many things a writer can learn from reading fanfiction. 

Thus, I have created a list of four things which I have learned through reading fanfiction which have served me well in my own writing habits.  Plus, this gives me a reason to justify my reading fanfiction in the first place.

                                                                                                                     

1.      The Importance (and Rarity) of Proper Grammar Usage

I am not talking about stories which have one or two spelling or grammar mistakes. Those few mistakes are understandable, and no one is immune to the occasional slip-up, myself included.

No, I am referring to the (quite astonishingly) large amount of stories I have read in which the laws of grammar seem to have somehow hitchhiked cross-country never to be seen again.  Perhaps they are floating around in space somewhere looking for a spaceship to pick them up before they suffocate. 

Much of my amazement has to do with the fact that, in an age where we have some of the most advanced technology at our fingertips, it seems too difficult for some people to use a simple spell-checker.  Come on, people.  See those little red squiggly lines underneath some of your words?  Ignoring them will not be beneficial to anyone.  Least of all, the reader.

What I find most sad about improper grammar usage is that a story could have loads of potential, but readers are not going to want to give a story a chance if they see mistakes in every other line.  It distracts from the story and takes a person out of the scene. 

The good thing about fanfiction writing is that, even if you are not the best proofreader, there are always beta readers available to help edit your stories and offer feedback.  Asking for help is never a bad thing, and it will help you to become a better writer and editor in the long run.

Talking of Titles, or, When Titles Talk Back

Let’s face it: One of the first things which entices you to pick up a book or read a certain article is its title.  A title can make or break a person’s first encounter with a book.  It’s like meeting someone for the first time.  If you were to encounter someone on the street who was wearing ski goggles, a furry parka, rainbow tights, and had a pet monkey on his shoulder…well, you’d probably run away in terror.  But!  You’d want to know his backstory, surely?  Of course you would.

A title does sort of the same thing.  Choosing the right title can make a big difference in the way in which a book is received.  It can evoke certain emotions or make someone interested in the book even if the actual subject matter may not be to their taste.  In fact, the title may be downright misleading (thank you, Naked Lunch), but if it’s creative enough, chances are you’ll at least pick it up and have a look at the back cover.  Here are some of my personal favorite book titles:

• The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
•   To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
• The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler
•  The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse by Robert Rankin (I swear this is a real book.  I haven’t read it yet, but just for the title alone, I really think I should!)

I could go on and on; titles are just so much fun, not only to read but to create!  I’d assume it’s like naming a baby; a name gives something its whole identity.